Rajat Patidar Suffers Finger Injury Ahead Of IPL 2025 Suspension

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar continues to recover from a finger injury that he sustained during his side's clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 3 (Saturday), according to a report on ESPNCricinfo.

Had the Indian Premier League (IPL) not been suspended due to the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, Patidar would have missed the matches against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) as he was advised a 10-day rest.

Patidar, who has now returned to Bengaluru from Lucknow on May 10 (Saturday), was keen on playing all the matches despite the injury. RCB are however, cautious with Patidar given that their skipper would have had a role to play in the playoffs, and moreover, is in line to be picked for India's tour of England, for which the squad will be announced in the days to come. 

In Patidar's absence, wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma was in line to lead RCB. "I was very grateful for the opportunity given to me," Jitesh said on RCB Bold Diaries. 

"They were giving me an opportunity to captain RCB, and it's a very big thing for me and my family. I was thinking of what the right combination would be because both Devdutt [Padikkal] and Rajat were not available, and it was a big responsibility to replace them.

"And as per the position we were on the points table, we would have won this game. All of this was going on in my head and all the meetings with coaches and players in those two-three days, batting order, discussions with bowlers. I had good fun."

Other than Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal too suffered a hamstring injury, following which he was ruled out of the season, while pacer Josh Hazlewood is nursing a shoulder injury. Phil Salt also missed a couple of games through illness.

RCB are in an excellent position on the IPL 2025 points table with 16 points from 11 matches. They are just one win away from assuring themselves of a place in the playoffs.